What a difference 10 days make.  About a week and half ago we were complaining about too much sun and temps pushing 80.  Today there’s a Winter Storm Warning in place for southwest Montana and the Park spanning the next few days.  There will still be some fishing to do in lower elevations and for the hardy; visit back over the next few days and we’ll update what really happens with the weather….

Here are a few updates for area rivers….

Madison – The Madison below Quake has been fishing well; morning midges and evening Caddis.  Terrestrials have still been in play, but probably won’t after this weekend’s weather.  Nymphing has been strong, and the colder weather will push the streamers too.   

Big Hole – Midges, BWO, Mahoganies (some), with a very strong streamer bite in play; the leaves have been spectacular over there, and again very few on the river.  

Beaverhead – The Beaverhead’s great season continues despite the early reduction to winter flows.  In the sun this past week they’ve been fishing terrestrials, Caddis, and several mayflies including BWO, Mahoganies, and even a few Cranes.  A wader’s river right now at the low flows, with very few elbows around. 

Yellowstone below the Park – The sun hasn’t been a friend to the ‘Stone necessarily; Jake and I were over there yesterday shooting some video and saw a couple of zones with an aggressive BWO rise where the river was shaded by trees.  Streamers should be stronger with the weather change, and terrestrials will probably be finished after this weekend above Livingston. BWO should be better up high in the clouds, though it’s going to be cold this weekend up near Gardiner. 

Bighorn – Flows are running at 2700; algae is an issue though folks are nymphing as always.  BWO and Caddis have been waning, and should be skimpy after the weather change.  Streamers will be the key if you can persistent and patient with the algae. 

Gallatin below the Park – The Gallatin’s banner year continues; believe it or not attractors and small terrestrials have still been fishing in the upper meadows and below the canyon this week in the sun.  BWO and caddis are still around (see our post this week about the river below Big Sky).  Streamers should come on strong after this storm passes; could still see some BWO in the right kind of afternoons.  Nymphing is the ticket otherwise. 

Missouri – They’ve had a really windy week over there, and it probably will be today again ahead of this weather.  Reports include folks still fishing terrestrials, evening Caddis, morning Trico.  BWO and streamers should be better once the weather settles.

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